ENDORSE: Fresno City Council District 7, we’re going to let the voters tell us on this one
We’ve decided not to endorse any single candidate in the primary for the Fresno City Council District 7 race because the three contenders each represent important aspects of what the district needs.
We want to hear from the voters, and if there’s a runoff in November, we’ll dive deeper and offer some guidance.
Here’s what you need to know
Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza will term out by the end of the year, leaving his District 7 seat open in the 2026 primary election.
Four candidates are vying for the spot: community organizer and consultant Ariana Martinez Lott, Blackstone Merchants Association founder AJ Rassamni, retired paralegal Jason Keomanee and attorney Nav Gurm.
The Bee wasn’t able to reach Keomanee to participate in our candidates’ forum, or for other primary election coverage.
It’s effectively a three-person race of accomplished newcomers who would all be first-time elected officials. Each offers their own unique perspective.
District 7 includes east-central Fresno and parts of southeast Fresno, including the Manchester, Radio Park, Romain Park, Lafayette Park/Fresno High neighborhoods. The district also includes parts of the Blackstone Avenue corridor, and neighborhoods near Shields and Temperance avenues.
Watch the full District 7 candidate forum here: Fresno City Council D7 candidates answer key questions during Fresno Bee forum
The Fresno Bee Editorial Board consists of editors and community advisors. We plan to expand the board following the June 2 primary to include more community members.
Read about our plans for a community editorial board
In this year’s endorsement cycle, we’ve left out SEDA in our considerations because most of the candidates across the four city council races say they do not support the current plan but might in the future with some revisions. We looked for a combination of fresh perspectives and practical experience.
Here’s where City Council candidates stand on SEDA, Fresno’s massive development plan
The Bee editorial board thinks a new council should rethink the anti-camping ordinance and support sensible economic development projects that can increase economic activity in downtown and elsewhere in Fresno as they raise the city’s profile, such as a new downtown soccer stadium.
Here’s a look at the candidates in alphabetical order:
Nav Gurm
Gurm is an attorney and the owner of Five River Strategies, a Central Valley public affairs consultancy. He is also a former legislative assistant for Esparza.
One pressing issue Gurm sees facing the district is insufficient infrastructure, such as poor roads and sidewalks, and outdated water and sewer systems.
“If elected, I will fight aggressively to ensure District 7 and South Fresno receive their equitable share of Measure C funds and any future infrastructure measures,” Gurm said.
Ariana Martinez Lott
Martinez Lott is a community organizer and the owner of Corazón Consulting. She also worked for Fresno Councilmember Miguel Arias as director of community relations from 2021 to 2023.
She said many issues in District 7 are connected to “decades of unchecked outward growth.” To counteract, she said she will prioritize gaps in street repairs, routes to school and public transportation services, as well as expanding Fresno’s local housing trust fund and establishing a public safety residential response team.
AJ Rassamni
Rassamni is the founder of the Blackstone Merchants Association. He’s also the former owner of the Great American Car Wash and the author of a business book.
His top issue is addressing homelessness. He said he sees it as not only a humanitarian issue, but also a public safety and economic stability issue.
He supports establishing government-sanctioned camps, or “safe zones” where people experiencing homelessness can stay legally while receiving services like sanitation, case management, mental-health treatment, and addiction support. It’s unclear where in the city Rassamni would propose these camps be located.
“When encampments remain unmanaged, neighborhoods become unsafe and economic activity declines. When people receive treatment, structure, and a path back to stability, the entire city benefits,” he said.
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 10:59 AM.
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